Nigeria: Dangote Cement announced on 26 January 2022 that it bought 126.75 million of its own shares in the week to 21 January 2022, the second tranche of a buyback programme set to return cash to shareholders. The producer, majority-owned by Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote, aims to buy back up to 10% of its US$41m share capital in tranches. The company now has 16.87 billion shares outstanding.
Italian authorities seize cement en-route from Albania
Italy/Albania: Officials from the Customs and Monopoly Agency (ADM) and the soldiers of the Guardia di Finanza, have identified cement lacking CE and proper importation markings, among other questionable building materials, in three articulated trucks that disembarked from Albania at the port of Ancona. A total of more than 36t of materials has been held.
The authorities stated that the use of trademarks of Italian companies on imported products or goods without clearly indicating the country or place of manufacture and, more generally, incorrect information on the origin of the goods, damages both the market and consumers’ interests.
Les Ciments de Bizerte sees turnover rise in 2021
Tunisia: The overall turnover of Les Ciments de Bizerte rose by 17.8% year-on-year in 2021, to US$45.1m in 2021, from US$38.2m in 2020. Its local turnover rose by 5% to US$38.1m from US$36.3m. The company’s export turnover soared by 256% from US$1.96m to US$6.96m. The volume of cement it produced in 2021 was 673,079t, up by 17,829t (2.7%) compared to 2020.
Czech producers under pressure from EU ETS prices
Czech Republic: The high prices of European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) emission allowances, more than Euro84/t of CO2 emitted in the week to 28 January 2022, are likely to make cement production more expensive. Manufacturers are currently unclear how much prices will have to rise but stated that they could no longer absorb the rising cost of buying extra allowances.
Pavel Pavel Zdeněk, sales director of Lafarge Cement, the local Holcim subsidiary, said "The price of emission allowances are around Euro85/t. This year, the price may remain the same, but it could also rise to Euro100/t. This will already be reflected in the costs."
